Apparatus for surfacing glass sheets



July 5, 1938. H. s. HEICHERT ET AL APPARATUS FOR SURFACING GLASS SHEETS Filed April 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l om. mm #0 J T R W M w m? w mfi v u y 1938- r H. s. HEICHERT ET AL 66 APPARATUS FOR SURFACING GLASS SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 m5 W 6 H r H H B a m B mm n .a fl/ 00 ND m Q mu Q m M 3 0m r, mm E O n\\ A \L f kufiw, Ff 5 @P m an am fin UH NV LI av 3 H a fi Ir 1? y 1938- H. s. HEICHERT ET AL 2,122,466

APPARATUS FOR SURFACING GLASS SHEETS Filed April 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 as [I a? INVENTORS H6.HE/CJ/EK7- N BY WA WEN y 1933/ H. s. HEICHERT AL 2,122,465

APPARATUS FOR SURFACING GLASS SHEETS Filed April 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 m IN V EN TOR5 5, /ECHE/FT y W dbl EN Patented July 5, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR SURFACING GLASS SHEETS Herman S. Heichert and William Owen, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 16,

I 4 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for surfacing glass sheets, in which cars or tables carrying the glass sheets thereon are passed in a continuous train beneath a series of grinding and polishing runners and particularly to the means for moving the cars along the tracks on which they are mounted. Heretofore, this has been accomplished by the use of suitably driven pinions located beneath the cars at the entrance end of the line which engage racks on the bottoms of the cars. In this operation, cars were added at such entrance end by means of a transfer car and a locomotive. which latter pushed the cars along the line until they engaged the last car of the train to which they were coupled preliminary to passing over the pinions above referred to as providing the motive power for mov ing the train ahead. This system called for the use of couplings between the cars (as each car had to be dragged over the pinion by the car ahead) and required that each car be pushed along by the locomotive until the coupling at the front end of the car was attached to the coupling on the car next preceding. The present invention involves an improvement on the system above described, in that it permits the use of couplings to be dispensed with, and does not require that the operator of the locomotive shall push the added car into engagement with the preceding one. The elimination of the couplings simplifies and cheapens the apparatus, and the locomotive operator can switch on the cars more rapidly, due to the fact that he does not have to move them up with the same care and precision, since they do not have to be pushed into actual contact with the preceding car. Further, the couplings between the rear car of the train and the one just added sometimes give or fail and permit separation between the car ends of varye f'ing width, while the car is being pulled into engagement with the drive pinion. This interrupts the continuity of the train and results in an uneven travel, as the movement of the train stops while the gap is being closed and often serious difficulties occur due to this cause. The present invention is designed to overcome the difficulty above recited, and briefly stated involves the use of a delivery mechanism at the entrance end of the line which receives from the locomotive the car to be added to the train and moves it ahead at a higher rate of travel than the train in such manner'that it engages the rear car of the train before its rack reaches the pinion which moves the train. The delivery device is preferably an endless chain provided-withdogs adaptedto en- 1936, Serial No. 74,664

gage the rack, such chain being driven at a higher rate" of travel than the rate of travel of the train of cars. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of somewhat diagrammatic character showing the complete system. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections on the lines IIIIII, IV-IV and V-V respectively of Fig. 2. And Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views, Fig. 6 being a side elevation and Fig. '7 a section on the line VII VII of Fig. 6.

Referring to the general arrangement, 8 and 9 (Fig. l) are the work tracks of the system; I!) and [I are return tracks; I2 is a transfer track, on which is mounted the transfer car l3, I4 is a track on the transfer car which is adapted to be brought into alinement with any one of the tracks 8, 9, ill and II; and I5 is an electric locomotive mounted on the track l4 and adapted to deliver the car on the track M to one of the work tracks 8 and 9. Arranged over each of the work tracks is a table cleaning brush it, a series of grinding runners I1 and a series of polishing runners l8. Only one grinding runner and one polishing runner is shown over each track, but it will be understood that the system involves the use of a large number of these runners. At the left hand end of the system, which is not shown'on'the' drawings, the tracks 8, 9, l0 and l I terminate at a transfer track similar to the track l2, and on this track, is mounted a transfer car similar to the car 13 provided with a locomotive, so that a transfer of the cars from the Work tracks to the return tracks may be accomplished in the same manner that the cars at the right hand end of the system are transferred from the return tracks to the work tracks.

This general arrangement, as so far described, a

is set forth in detail in the Fox Patent No. 1,554,804, dated September 22, 1935. The cars or tables 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24, etc. (Figs. 1 and 2) are all of similar construction and comprise a body portion 25 (Fig. 7) suitably mounted on wheels 26 (Fig. 5), and each of said tables carries on its lower side along its center a rack 22 with which a pinion cooperates after the cars are formed into a train to move such train along one ofthe work tracks. The construction of the mechanism used in connection with the work tracks for handling cars is the same for each ofthe tra'cks'8 and Qso that a description of one will be sufficient for both.

The piniona'bove referred to for'engaging the carrying the brushes 42.

motor 36 through the shaft 51.

- carried by a shaft 53.

racks and moving the train of cars along the Work tracks is located adjacent the entrance end of each of the work tracks, as indicated in Fig. 2, such pinion bearing the reference numeral 28. This pinion is supported on an arm 29, and is held in position to engage the racks on the bottom of the cars by means of the connecting rod 30 provided with a hand Wheel 3|. The pinion is driven from a'motor 32 operating through reduction gearing in the casing 33 to drive the shaft 34, such shaft carrying a pinion 35 (Fig. 4) which engages the pinion 28. Since the tables are brought into engagement to form a train before they reach the pinion 28, such pinion serves as a drive means for moving the entire train of cars ahead. Only one of these pinions is shown, but it will be understood that in practice, it is customary to use two or more pinions.

In order to insure a smooth, even travel of each train of. cars, yielding hold-back means are provided for engaging the racks on the cars after they pass the last polishing machine l8. This hold-back means comprises a pinion 35 mounted similarly to the pinion 28 and engaging the racks on the cars. It is connected through the pinion 3? and reduction gearing in the casing 38 with a motor 39, which is driven at a speed such that the peripheral speed of the gear 36 would normallybe less than the rate of movement of the cars as driven from the pinion 28. The motor thus acts as a yielding hold-back for the train and insures it against the uneven forward movement. This hold-back feature is disclosed in the Fox Patent No. 1,683,342, dated September 4, 1928, and such hold-back, and the means as above described for moving the train of cars along the work track, constitutes no part of. the present invention.

The brush machine It for cleaning the tables comprises a motor 45, which rotates the spider 4! The grinding machine it comprises a runner driven from the motor 43 through the shaft 44. The polishing machine I8 comprises a runner carrying the usual polishing blocks &5, such runner being driven from the The brush machine, grinding runner, and polishing runner, with their operating mechanisms are forms of. apparatus well known in the art.

The construction to which the invention particularly relates is the delivery mechanism including the endless belt 48 (Fig. 2) located between the transfer track l2 and the pinion 28, which moves the train, such transfer mechanism being adapted to receive the car delivered by the locomotive from the transfer table l3 and move it along until it abuts the last car or table of. the train, which is moving over the pinion 28. The endless conveyor 48 is formed of chain sprocket links and passes around a pair of sprockets 49 and 49m, the sprocket 49 being an idler, while the sprocket 49% is mounted on the driven shaft 55. Such shaft has keyed to it a pinion 5| (Fig. 5) in driven engagement with a pinion 52 The shaft 53 is driven from a pair of motors 54, 54 through the intermediary of reduction gearing in the casings 515, 55. The shaft is made up of. sections and interposed between these sections are a pair of one way clutches 55. This double drive is to take care of a possible failure of one of the motors, and in case one of the motors fails, the one way clutches permit the motor to drive the mechanism without driving the other motor, this double motor drive with pin clutch connections for safety purposes 'clined position, as indicated in Fig. 6, and one or more of such dogs will always be in position 7 toswing to tilted position and engage one of the teeth of the rack 21. The conveyor chain is driven by the motors 54, 54 at a speed which is substantially greater than the movement of the train of cars as produced by the rotation of the pinion 28. If a car or table is, therefore, pushed from the transfer car over the top of the conveyor chain, it will be engaged by one of the dogs and moved along at a high enough speed to bring the table into contact with the last table of the train before the table passes onto the pinion 28. As a result, the cars are formed into a continuous train before passing over the pinion 28 and held under compression so that no gaps can be formed after the train is once completed. This does away with the requirement for any couplings between the ends of the cars and insures the continuity of the train on the track to the left of. the pinions 28 which drive the train. V

The use of the transfer or delivery means, as above described, also relieves the operator of considerable work, and enables him to work more rapidly, as his responsibility ceases, after he has pushed the table l3 forward onto the work track so that its rack can be engaged by the dogs of the conveyor chain. As above described, the conveyor chain will move the table at a rate of speed such that it will engage the last car of the train before such car passes off of. the pinion 28. The operator of the locomotive is, therefore, relieved of the work of moving the table on the transfer car forward with slowness and precision, such as is required when it is necessary to move the table into coupling engagement with the preceding table. In no instance is it necessary for him to move his locomotive off of the transfer car as/ was necessary with the previous apparatus on some occasions in order to bring the car handled by the locomotive into engagement with the rear car of the train. The work of. the operator is, therefore, much reduced and positive insurance is provided against any separation between the tables after they have once been brought into engagement with the car ahead. Other advantages incident to the construction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with apparatus for surfacing glass which comprises a work track with a series of surfacing machines thereover, a train of abutting cars for carrying the glass sheets to be surfaced along the track provided on their under sides with racks, a driven pinion at the entrance end of the track adapted to engage the racks, a transfer track extending transversely of the work track, a car on the transfer track provided with a track adapted to be brought into alinement with the work track and a locomotive on the transfer track for moving a'car along such track and onto the work track, of a continuously driven delivery means located intermediate the transfer track and said pinion having run over means which permits the ,free movement of the car rack thereover at a higher rate of speed than the movement of the delivery means and adapted to engage the rack on the car delivered thereto and move it along the track till the rack is enaged by said pinion, said delivery means being normally driven at a speed in excess of the peripheral speed of said pinion but subject to a reduction in speed to that of the pinion by the resistance encountered when the car moved thereby engages the rear end of the train of cars on the work track.

2. In combination with apparatus for surfacing glass which comprises a work track with a series of surfacing machines thereover, a train of abutting cars for carrying the glass sheets to be surfaced along the track provided on their under sides with racks, a driven pinion at the entrance end of the track adapted to engage the racks, a transfer track extending transversely of the work track, a car on the transfer track provided with a track adapted to be brought into alinement with the work track, and a locomotive on the transfer track for moving a car along such track and onto the Work track, of an endless delivery member located between the end of the work track and said pinion having its two flights in a vertical plane beneath the cars, means at spaced intervals on the delivery member arranged to engage the racks on the cars and move them toward the pinion, and means for driving the delivery member continuously at a normally higher rate of speed than the peripheral speed of said pinion but adapted to accommodate its speed to that of the pinion when the car being moved thereby engages the rear end of the train of cars on the work track.

3. In combination with apparatus for surfacing lass which comprises a work track with a series of surfacing machines thereover, a train of abutting cars for carrying the glass sheets to be surfaced along the track provided on their under sides with racks, a driven pinion at the entrance end of the track adapted to engage the racks, a

transfer track extending transversely of the work track, a car on the transfer track provided with a track adapted to be brought into alinement with the work track, and a locomotive on the transfer track for moving a car along such track and onto the work track, of an endless delivery member located between the end of the work track and said pinion having its two flights in a vertical plane beneath the cars, means at spaced intervals on the delivery member arranged to engage the racks on the cars and move them toward the pinion, and an electric motor in driving relation with the delivery member arranged to drive it normally at a speed in excess of the peripheral speed of said pinion but subject to a decrease in speed to that of the pinion when the car moved thereby engages the rear end of the train of cars on the work track.

4. In combination with apparatus for surfacing glass which comprises a work track with a series of surfacing machines thereover, a train of abutting cars for carrying the glass sheets to be surfaced along the track provided on their under sides with racks, a driven pinion at the entrance end of the track adapted to engage the racks, a transfer track extending transversely of the work track, a car on the transfer track provided with a track adapted to be brought into alinement with the work track, and a locomotive on the transfer track for moving a car along such track and onto the work track, of an endless delivery member located between the end of the work track and said pinion having its two flights in a vertical plane beneath the cars, pivoted dogs at spaced intervals on the delivery member arranged to engage the racks on the cars and move them toward the pinion, and yielding drive means for the delivery member arranged to move it normally at a speed in excess of the peripheral speed of said pinion.

HERMAN S. HEICHERT. WILLIAM OWEN. 

